childing

[ chahyl-ding ]

adjective

, Archaic.

1. bearing children; pregnant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of childing¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; child, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Childing, wounded, winded, wise, sure.

From New York Times

Travail and pain I sing— The bride on the childing bed, The dark man labouring at his rhymes, The ewe in the lambing shed.

From Project Gutenberg

With fire and sword the country round Was wasted jar and wide, And many a childing mother then, And newborn baby died; But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory.

From Time Magazine Archive

The variety of daisy which children now call “Hen and Chickens” was known as the “childing daisy” in Gerard’s time.

From Project Gutenberg

The Daisy not only produces double flowers, but also the curious proliferous flower called Hen and Chickens, or Childing Daisies, or Jackanapes on Horseback.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• advantageous
• beneficial
• conducive
• effective
• profitable
• rewarding
• successful
• useful
• worthwhile